Winter root mash with buttery crumbs

Ingredients

• 650g parsnips, cut into even chunks
• 650g swedes, cut into same size chunks as the parsnips
• 142ml tub soured cream
• 1 rounded tbsp hot horseradish (English Provender is good)
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• butter, for greasing

For the butter topping

• 50g butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 50g fresh white breadcrumbs (from about 4 slices)
• a small handful thyme leaves, plus extra for scattering
• 25g parmesan, coarsely grated
•   Prep: 50 mins - 1 hr Cook: 40 mins

  Skill level:Easy

  Servings:Serves 10

  
  

  Method

  1. In a large pan of boiling salted water, cook the parsnips and swede, covered, for about 20 minutes until tender. Drain well, then mash them together using a masher or food processor until reasonably smooth but still with a bit of texture. Stir in the soured cream, horseradish and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Spoon into a buttered shallow ovenproof dish and put to one side.
  3. Make the topping. Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the onion for 5-6 minutes, until gorgeously golden. Mix in the breadcrumbs and stir to brown and crisp a little. Season with salt and pepper and add the thyme. Take the pan off the heat. Spoon the mixture casually over the top of the mash. Scatter over the parmesan. (Can be made ahead to this point and kept covered in the fridge for up to a day. Or can be frozen for up to a month.)
  4. Bake with the turkey (190C/gas 5/ fan 170C) for 35-40 minutes if doing from cold, 25-30 minutes if not, or 11⁄2-13⁄4 hours from frozen (put foil on top, and remove it for the last 10 minutes) – until golden and crisp on top. Serve scattered with a few more thyme sprigs and leaves.